phase 3, randomized, safety, lot consistency and clinical benefit study of recombinant botulinum vaccine a/b

Conditions: Botulism

Summary: this phase 3 clinical trial is a double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, multicenter investigation of rbv a/b in male and female healthy adults 18 to 55 years of age.

currently, there are no licensed vaccines or pre-exposure prophylactic medical countermeasures available to provide protection against botulism. the rbv a/b is under development to provide protection of adults 18 to 55 years of age from fatal botulism caused by inhalational intoxication with botulinum neurotoxin complex (bont) serotype a, subtype a1 (bont/a1) and botulinum neurotoxin complex serotype b, subtype b1 (bont/b1). volunteers will not be exposed to botulism. protective antibody titers will be measured in serum after vaccination.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: 1. the volunteer is a u.s. citizen or permanent resident alien of the u.s. 2. the volunteer has signed the informed consent form. 3. the volunteer is 18 to 55 years of age. 4. the volunteer agrees not to donate blood or blood product for therapeutic or research purposes. 5. the volunteer is willing to comply with the requirements of the protocol through the last scheduled visit. 6. the volunteer is accessible by telephone or electronic mail to receive reminders from the investigative site. 7. female volunteers of childbearing potential must not be pregnant or lactating and agree to use two types of an acceptable form of fda-approved contraception through end of study. 8. the volunteer is in good health. 9. the volunteer has clinical laboratory tests within acceptable ranges listed in the protocol. exclusion criteria: 1. the volunteer has a history of botulism or prior receipt of any botulinum vaccine, toxoid or antitoxin. 2. the volunteer has previously been treated or expects to be treated with any therapeutic products containing bonts such as botox®, myobloc®/neurobloc™ and botox® cosmetic. 3. the volunteer has a history of hypersensitivity or significant adverse reaction to other vaccines, aluminum compounds or yeast. 4. the volunteer has a history of severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis. 5. the volunteer has donated one or more units of blood (≥ 450 ml) or undergone plasmapheresis within the past 28 days prior to receiving first administration of study product. 6. the volunteer received any blood product or immunoglobulin in the previous 6 months prior to receiving first vaccination or plans to receive such products during the clinical trial. 7. the volunteer received any investigational vaccine in the previous 6 months. 8. the volunteer received or intends to receive any licensed nonliving vaccine within 14 days before or after a scheduled administration of study product. 9. the volunteer received or intends to receive any licensed live vaccine, including flumist® within 60 days before or after a scheduled administration of study product. 10. vaccination with commercially available inactivated or non-living influenza vaccine preparations (other than flumist®) if received 14 days before and after a scheduled administration of study product. 11. the volunteer received any investigational drug therapy within 30 days before the first vaccination or before the last scheduled visit. 12. the volunteer received therapy with immunosuppressive agents, including use of moderate to high-dose oral inhaled or systemic corticosteroids (prednisone-equivalent dose of ≥ 20 mg/day). 13. the volunteer has or develops medically diagnosed chronic migraine headaches (persistent and recurrent) or a neurological condition associated with a cranial nerve or spasticity or abnormal muscle contraction, demyelination, other abnormalities of smooth or skeletal muscle function or hyperhidrosis. 14. the volunteer had systemic or recurrent disease or condition that would place the volunteer at an unacceptable risk of injury or requires frequent or continuous medical intervention for treatment, has required hospitalization, or is likely to require surgical intervention during the course of the study. 15. the volunteer has current active mental illness, history of mental illness or hospitalization for mental illness within the past 12 months prior to first of administration of study product is exclusionary. 16. the volunteer has a history of immunodeficiency or autoimmune disease. 17. the volunteer has a systemic medical condition that is ongoing or has required hospitalization or administration of antimicrobial agents within 6 months before screening. 18. the volunteer has a history of or active rheumatoid arthritis or any autoimmune mediated arthritis. 19. the volunteer has an acute self-limited illness that has not resolved by the time of first vaccination including oral temperature greater than 99.5 °f. 20. the volunteer has a history of abuse of alcohol or drugs within the 12 months before clinical trial screening. 21. the volunteer has occupational or other responsibilities that would prevent completion of participation in the clinical trial in the opinion of the investigator. 22. the volunteer has a body mass index (bmi) ≥ 35 kg/m2. 23. the volunteer is a member of the team conducting this clinical trial or is in a dependent relationship with the clinical trial investigator. 24. the volunteer has a confirmed positive result on a urine drug screen that tests for common substances of abuse such as amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, opiates and cannabinoids. 25. the volunteer was seropositive on screening tests for human hiv, hepatitis c virus or hepatitis b surface antigen.

Keywords: defender study experimental vaccine inhalational intoxication